CNN

As a stutterer, I find this highly offensive and hurtful

The GOP take these cheap shots becasue they don't have anything else.... but it's fun to watch them eat themselves...

bush mispeaking was a matter of intellect, not a physical impairment. Ditto for palin. Mocking the CONTENT of what they said is not the smae as making fun of someone with a speech impairment. Anyone that has made it past 1st grade knows the difference.

This is the smae desperate politics of fear, hatred, and derision that characterizes todays republicon party. how they have more than a tiny handfl of supporters both boggles the mind and frightens anyone with half a brain.

'course calling a young lady a 'young lady' is so much worse.

Give it up GOP – Ya ain't got nuttin'

the gop is getting desperate.......

How Christian. Mocking a speech impediment. Fits right in with kicking the poor, stealing from the middle class to enrich the wealthy, returning women to 2nd class status, bashing minorities, trashing the environment, and all those other conservative values we have all come to expect.

AT THE END OF THE DAY . . .
As Senator, Creigh Deeds loyalty will be with all his constituents. Not like Bob McDonnell whose loyalty has always been, and will always be with the Party-Line and his "lobby-owned" bosses.

Sheila Johnson is a joke–she should be ashamed and embarassed! Now if that was Palin she would be saying "you are mocking someone with special needs" Republicans do anything to distract because they have nothing to say with substance!

Very classy, GOP. Your guys feign shock and horror that Deeds addressed a reporter as "young lady". Meanwhile, a McDonnell supporter mocks Deeds' speech impediment in front of a crowd.

Basically, you've got nothing, GOP. Least of all, class.

I think American would rather have someone who fumbles his words over someone who fumbles his life, beliefs, morals and is incompetent.

The update is even more pathetic. So, the mimic of a stutter is supposed to represent Deeds being on the fence over some issues? That doesn't make any sense. Someone is either a liar or an idiot.

This joke from someone who started BET a TV station that further sterotyped and demoralized Urban American youth and corrrupted morals. I have no respect for either MS. or Mr. Johnson.

One day people will realize politics is all about power and money..... The Johnson's are really concerend about their own bank accounts.

Wow. That's truly pathetic. This is the kind of leadership the republican party has to offer? Making fun of someone for what could be a legitimate speech impediment? Right or Left, that crosses a bit of a line.

Deeds has my vote.. .Proud Deeds supporter.

When Bush misspoke it was a problem. Now a democrat governor candidate misspeaks and it's defended. Hypocritical again.

My son has a stammer, and he has autism and Tourette's Syndrome. In spite of this, he raised over $400 in one weekend selling popcorn for his Boy Scout troop. If people in a working neighborhood who are struggling to get by can take the time to listen to an 11 year-old selling popcorn, the people of Virginia should be able to listen to a man with a stammer for Governor. Its pathetic that the co-founder of a network charged with raising public awareness of people of color could be so crass and shallow as to attack a person for having a stammer. Maybe she should pay more attention to the intentional butchering of the English language taking place every day on her network.

The GOP once again shows its higher merits - making fun of a speech impediment. Wow, too bad the guy isn't in a wheelchair - they could really have fun with that!

Folks, read the article again... Sheila Johnson isn't a member of the McDonnel campaign, GOP, or Bush administration. In fact, she strongly upported Obama for president.

Try not to be so simple-minded that the Reps vs. the Dems is like picking a football team and then saying something nasty about the other side. Try thinking about what you read and offer something constructive... people are much more complex than simply being the right/left wing nuts you say they are.

While you are free to make racist, and sexist remarks without a single repercussion or ever being called on them, as a Democrat it must get tiring repeating lie after lie, needing to distort reality and create falsehoods about your oppoents since if we were to just have an honest debate, the paty of hate would lose to the republican moral majority party every time.

Not nice, the democrats did it to W.

You can chalk this up as yet another reason the Virginia GOP will not control the Governor’s Mansion in Richmond. Bobby Mac has communicated very clearly that he is a buffoon that is not even qualified to muck the cow stalls in Blacksburg.

Wow. That is cruel. Making fun of someone for having a stutter? She should be ashamed of herself!

Alinsky Rules now going both ways, libs.
Get used to it.

I know people who have speech impediments, and that is nothing to make fun of. It just goes to show how petty our political system has become. Poor redneck Virginia.

Republcans are a nasty bunch and this just goes to prove it! Keep it up GOP . . . people remember negative campaigns when they enter the polling booth.

Maybe Deeds needs a teleprompter. I mean look at the wonders it's done for Obama.

Sheila Johnson, you are a fool. A big one at that. How dare you make fun of someone’s disability. I just googled you now and I cant tell if you are white, black, albino or just plain stupid. I wonder how you would feel if some called you an oreo cookie. Idiot. BTW CNN don’t post this, cause normally you dont

I love it. The leftists routinely attacked W for his all-too-frequent gaffes. But now suddenly offended when one of their own is attacked. What they should be concerned about is that one of their own, longtime Democrat supporter Sheila Johnson, is stumping for a Republican.

And sorry there is nothing MODERATE about the new Deeds. The old Deeds was moderate, right of center to please his SW VA constituents. But the new Deeds is veering far left to please the Obama/Soros crowd.

oh..come on.....is this the very best the republicans can do..this..the party whose 'leader' was the moron who preceded obama; the 'leader' who, once and for all, for all of history to follow, validated forever that one need not know, or be fluent, in his native language...even to the point where whole dictionaries were created with his now famous 'bushisms' ..I mean..really now...are they serious? or did they, like most of the citizens of his country, NOT even listen to the moron when he spoke....I can hardly believe it!

What a horrible bunch of people Americans have become.
These constant nasty vitriol remarks , from both Republicans and Democrats alike , show how your country has lost it's moral compass.
Is this the best you can do , resort to name calling and personal attacks.
Get yourselves educated and informed , then discuss the policies of politicians and keep an open dialogue about their policies.
What you have done to Sarah Palin and her family is absolutely disgusting and I don't agree with many of her statements.

As a person who has dealt with a stammer my entire life, it really makes me mad that Sheila Johnson used Deeds stammer as a target. I have worked my entire life to fix my speech problems and have seen numerous speech pathologists. Stammering is a medical condition and should not be used as a target for political gain. Sheila Johnson should be ashamed of herself! The last time I remember being made fun of for my speech impediment was in grade school. Maybe Ms. Johnson should go back to grade school and learn how to treat others with respect!!!

During the W years, Republicans started 2 wars with NO EXIT PLAN, NO WMD, Illegal wiretaping, BLACKWATER, Trickle-down economics, NO BID CONTRACTS for CHENEYS Halliburton Co, Waterboarding, De-regulation and You want to point out a speech problem with a Democrat. JERK!!!

Shiela Johnson is flat out wrong for mocking this man if he has a speech problem. BET? well that's it for a lot of democrats and myself that tune in every now and then to watch this show. Johnson is stupid and her remarks shows that. idiot.
'

Nice to see the GOP taking the high road. So pathetic. Why do people vote for these jerks?

The Democratic Chairwoman of the Virginia State Board of Election (appointed by the Democratic National Committee Chair Tim Kaine, in his capacity as Virginia Governor) Jean Cunningham just claimed a legal basis for massively raising the barrier to voting for soldiers at war. VA claims that it does not have a legal obligation to send soldiers their absentee ballot in a timely manner. Why is that do you suppose, because soldiers vote overwhelming Conservative.

Thsi ranks right up there with the republicans using the elderly, women with breast cancer, physically disabled children to promote their positions, which by the way, is "no" position. I believe they are below the bottom of the barrel.

so voters are being asked to vote for the guy who 'speaks' better? It's not how something is said, it's WHAT is said – ya know? Like, 'working women are a detriment to society' and 'stuff' like that. McDonnell's needs to find some other 'skill' that he can say he's better at then Deeds, because I don't think the voters really care about Deeds problem speaking.

AND George W Bush WAS the smoothest talker on the campaign trail then?? How stupid can the GOP be when one of their own couldn't complete a sentence without a mispronunciation or using incorrect information.

Sheila Johnson and the entire BET crew help to destroy the positive Black image, while pocketing so many monies. Now, she decides to go after another person's speech impediment? Disgusting on so many level.

Bad move on McDonnelle's part. This makes Deeds look more like the people he wishes to work for. People with issues and problems, and those that suffer with various difficulties, etc. This will be Deeds newest weapon of choice, his ability to empathize with those who have been counted out and overlooked by the big dogs in society.

yes, it was OK to make fun of Bush because there is a difference.....BUSH is an idiot. He has no brain. Somene stuttering is a tad different my friend. I stutter, does that mean I am an idiot? Ill leave that to everyone else to judge, but my law degree says otherwise.

Well, perhaps McDonnell is a 'better' speaker than Deeds, but the words that come out of McDonnell's mouth are the problem, not the delivery.

Can't imagine what she'd say about David Patterson, Gov of NY (he's legally blind) if she lived in NY.

Poor speaking ability didn't stop Obama from being elected. Perhaps Deeds is also a good reader.

What did somebody in the political ring get their little feelings hurt? Here's a box of kleenex for you libs. Waah

Wow....with all the idiots in the Republican Party like Dubya and Palin, I've never once seen CNN describe their speech like you did for Deeds in the first paragraph of this article. Not a great speaker and frequently fumbling his words....I don't recall ever seeing this kind of disparaging description for any of our Republican politicians.

As a Democrat I must comment on the things said about Sarah Palin. She is an excellant speaker and attracts large crowds. It is not her delivery in question. It is the stupid things she says.
To ridicule a speech problem is very cruel and chilish and too typical of the "party of no".

Sounds a lot like our former Republican governor George Allen talking about "Macacca" doesn't it? These people have demonstrated over and over that they cannot learn to be civil in speech, so why would anyone expect civil decisions made by their party if they are elected?

Lets get this straight Mr. McDonnell, We as Americans don't care about perfect speech, We do care about Policies backed by CROOKED Republicans like yourself. WHAT A STUPID STATEMENT BY A STUPID RIGHT-WING CLOWN!!!

It was funny when they made fun of Bush - but not in this case.....you know, because it's the other side....

Here goes the GOP again......making fun of people who have a speech impediment. Stammering is a real issue nothing to be mocked about. It has nothing to do with one's intelligence.
The GOP has some verbally challenged people of their own. Sarah Palin who does not stammer could hardly speak a coherent and intelligent sentence.
Funny how the GOP is always mocking people who are sick, weak or different then them......( no rights for the sick, the gay or the unemployed)

What next? Mocking a sitting President who despite his mannerisms got higher grades at YALE than John "the professor" Kerry? Oh wait that has already been done in this article as well as in the past.

Just because someone stutters, or fumbles with their words does not mean they are stupid. if you make fun of them however despite your politcal party YOU are the IGNORANT one.

And I guess Johnson is now in that doesn't-know-how-to-communicate group.

What a noncommunicator she is.

That's funny because I thought the modern-day Republican party was as against strong communication skills as they are against college education.

Sorry, Sheila Johnson.

We forgot, mispronouncing words, stammering, and other not-so-attractive forms of speech are GOP stomping grounds.

what a sleezebag she is..picking on an impediment..these people disgust me!

You're a real class-less lady, Ms. Johnson. Is this the best you could do to change by vote from Deeds to Mc "keep-our-women-barefoot-and-pregnant" Donnell? As for Rachel – it was easy to make fun of Palin for WHAT she said, not how she said it.

Sarah Palin was picked on for what she spoke, not how she spoke. There is a difference.

Two things I know for certain on this fine, fall morning: the Cincinnati Bengals are 3-1 and McDonnell is a wingnut. You are fooling yourself if you think otherwise, just like I am fooling myself if I think the Bengals will make the play-offs.

They're like bratty kids, really.

Just like a Republican to make fun of a person with a speech impediment. Where's Sarah Palin, the defender of the disadvantaged, now? Of course, she's nowhere to be seen.

How many times was President Bush mocked for the way he spoke?

Madonna just appeared on the David Letterman (scumbag) show last week and said the Bush years were good years to not be living in America. Bush is NO longer President, yet people continue to BASH him.

Lib media attacks another republican woman or minority!! What a shock. Who cares...she isn't running. CNN quit being so dramatic. That is why you are getting killed in ratings. How about reporting what the issues are?

Often when the mind is working faster than your lips, you stutter. I had a friend in high school who was brilliant and yet when she spoke, it was difficult for her to begin certain of her words to communicate to people.

I am not a democrat nor Republican but I do empathize (sp) with persons who have a stutter. To think that one could run for governor of a state and still have a sppech impediment is wonderful. He must truly be a good communicator to have come so far, but to have someone rebuke him for his impediment is sorrowful.

The dirty Deeds of just another Democrat

How many people commenting on this article actually understand that Ms. Johnson is a Democrat? It's sad that people are so eager to jump to the conclusion that she is a Republican just because she is supporting one. I wish more people would learn to vote based on the individual and not the political party...sad.

Shelia: BACK UNDER THE ROCK! Your crass comments serve NO ONE! SHAME, SHAME, SHAME!!!!!!!

Hide girl hide. Your less than intelligent, "stupid, dumb" remarks indicate an uneductated wanna be! Does that fit YOU????

Perhaps, in this super, hyper sensitive politicla environment, yoy could perhaps, THINK!

Shelia Johnson need to get some where and sit down and shut up

There's a huge difference between someone like Palin who can't string a proper English sentence together, or someone like GW Bush who mis-pronounces common words and someone with a stutter.

The former two examples show a lack of intelligence; the latter, merely a speech impediment.

To make fun of a person's struggle to speak is cruel.

Why is it that republicans are being blamed for this? This was a comment by a DEMOCRAT who is supporting a republican. The question I have then is a simple one–can you liberals read? It is an easy question to answer. If a someonemakes a commentg, then the comments are attributed to that person, not to the group that the person is nominally associated with. So you can read, but can you take off your liberal glasses long enough to read critically?

seems to me that the liberals still can't forget bush. keep on comparing him and blaming him to justify all that you do wrong. look in the mirror, is that bush looking back at you?

George W was worse. And maybe someone should bring up the point that maybe MCDonnell would be better off with a backer who is not short and ugly.

Is that the best criticism the GOP can offer?

Pfft... Obviously a speech impediment is only a handicap if you're a Republican. Democrats are completely free to be mocked for anything, including handicaps. Why? Beacuse former President George W. Bush was made fun of for his blundering speeches, in which he often would misspeak.

You see, being independent means only keeping score on one side. Forget the pit-falls and indescretions of Republicans, Democrats are ripe for the picking. It's really the only independent way to go about things; only critisize democrats.

Independent: politically saying, "Look at me, look at me, my opinion's unbiased!"

i BET is the worst TV station in the world

Whatever, Bush got ripped all the time for his speech "issues".

Strategery!

Mrs. Johnson should be ashamed of herself and apologize immediately! As a woman of color I'm mortified! I'm sure if somebody referred to a "black accent" she'd be screaming in the streets, I know I would. Children know better than to make fun of a speech impediment! Shame on her!

My grandson has the same speech impediment, that Mrs. Johnson so freely made 'fun' of. As, previously stated I do believe that her statements hurt more then she will realize or cares to realize. As an adult it will hurt a bit less but as a child it hurts more then she knows. She has made 'fun' of many in one statement, as I take it to heart because one of mine does just like she stated. Please know I have lost what respect I did have for BET in a matter of one statement.

Thanks!

It is wrong for someone to make fun of someone for having a speech impediment no matter what side of the political aisle you hail from. As a speech pathologist, I don't like to see anyone made fun of for not being able to speak properly. Having a stuttering disorder takes a deep emotional toll on a person. The fact that this man has chosen such a high profile career is amazing. Call the man out on his policies if you disagree with him (which I do), but his speech should be off limits. Wrong is wrong people.

Besides being deliberately cruel, she has delusions of grandeur. While she may not suffer from a speech impediment, somebody needs to tell her the Repiglicans need a backer who isn't short and ugly.

Big deal – trying to stick this on the Republican candidate isn't going to win the election – it's just another distraction.

The fact is that people who stutter and face challenges by speaking in public and facing microphone and the crowd are demonstrating true grit and guts. It is courageous to do it! So the person who stutters is winning points in a big way, while the person who said something about it looks foolish and ignorant. The opposing candidate who doesn't call his supporter out for her act is the one who looks weak and ridiculous. I would pick courage, true guts and grit over stupidity any day. There are those big words, like respect, self – respect, integrity of thought, purpose and action and the list goes on and on. I happen to know Robert Johnson, the other co-founder of BET and greatly doubt such words would come to either his mind or pass his lips. I do NOT know Ms. Johnson, except for this brief statement and am not interested to know any more about her as a result. There should be a loud chorus from the Republican side disassociating itself from such awful comments. And, I am often a Republican about most things, so I am especially disgusted by both what Ms. Johnson said and the failure of the candidate to immediately disassociate the campaign from it.

But i'll bet she was perfectly ok with a 'president' whose first language was gibberish! The depth of the hypocrisy of the 'right' never ceases to amaze me.

The leader-types of the Republican party are just ignorant high school bullies who managed to get into college (probably with their parents' money).

These politicians need to learn to play nice...Even if the Dem Rep Grayson is too rude to apologize, this woman should.

I really think that was an immature thing to do. I was horrified when George Allen called the Indian gentlemen a Macaca. I remember black people that could not speak well were made fun of. Such as Mush Mouth in the Cosby cartoons. Ms. Johnson made her money off of black exploitation. God will put her in her place. I have known some very nice Republicans but it seems that the majority act like thugs and bullies with no solutions and nothing to say.

She has (NO CLASS) about as much as her Ex-husband none.
They only see $$$ signs to make it in this world.

But remember do unto those as you would have done unto you.

The table could turn at anytime Ms. Johnson.
May God Bless this country, and help us to raise above all the foolishness, and become adults that is willing to teach our young to respect each other.
Obama/Biden and the Dems for the next eight years a beyound.

More and more what passes for serious political discourse today closely resembles dialogue that I left behind on an elementary school playground when I was twelve years of age. Yet another contribution to the Dumbing Down of America.

I'm elated to see so many comments of disgust toward what this woman said. Does she not have any flaws? I applaud the Dem. for not letting a physical boundry get in the way of his dream of politics.

He may have a speech impediment. If so, she needs to apologize. The main thing is can he get the job done.

Apparently she's not professional as she claims. With all her commication skills and she allows this to come from her mouth....she's the one with the problem.

Exactly what one would expect from a group of people that calls anyone that disagrees with them racists and nazis. The change you voted for America, Remember hope is note a plan.

This smells like a political set-up. The Washington Post runs a full article on Deeds inability to speak and now CNN has an issue with Sheila Johnson of BET dating several weeks ago. Why didn’t CNN raise the speech issue when it occurred?

Thanks Ms. Johnson for the video – I will use it to teach my 11 year old child about compassion and respect (or lack thereof).

The Republicans need a lot more than "people who can speak". They need people with ideas and concepts. And most importantly, something I see very little of lately, compassion.

A GOPer who's concerned with a leaders abilty to speak? Has he completely forgotten (probably wants to) GEORGE W. BUSH and the simply scintillating speeches he gave?

Speeches are written by speech writers and speakers only deliver them. Whereas, speaking the truth is an essential part of being an effective leader that’s why it feels good to listen to Barney Frank but when Sara Palling speaks not only she’s not coherent but she’s also full of it.
People listened to Bush, they believed his lies and voted for him, but as we found out how misleading he was, not only he was voted out but he took all his party down with him. Now we listen to Obama, he sounded sincere, and that’s why we voted for him. And I sure hope he keeps his campaign promises. I personally am sick and tired of our deceptive politician. Not only they should be booted out, but they also should be held accountable for their lies. Whereas, the only thing we hold them accountable for is when they are untruth to their marriage vow, which should be none of our business.
It’s time to clean up dirty politics, especially in our Senate. One good way to do it is to outlaw corporate lobbyists. It’s hard to keep a man honest when they’re force to accept “offers they cannot refuse”.

No one made "fun" of McCain not being able to use a keyboard...the phrase was "he cannot use a computer" in an attempt to portrait him as out of touch. The the GOP goons twisted that into an attack on his disability.

The attacks on Bush were not an attack on an impediment, rather his general lack of knowledge.

Deeds actually has knowledge, just has a hard time expressing it, which is an impediment.

But to understand all this you would need someone with an IQ over room temperature.

You stupid fool what are you thinking about? Don't you forget woman where you came from. You will pay dearly for poking fun because it is just down right ugly to do so.

And why is this any different than the 8 years of ribbing that Pres. Bush took? Is it becasue a Republican said it about a Democrat? Where were you, CNN, in defense of Bush?

Lots of phony liberal outrage as expected. You didn't seem to mind mocking Bush's speaking or Palin's, you bethcha.

I wonder if this McConnell rep supported George W. Bush, a man who could barely speak the English language with any measure of intelligence.

Bachman speaks just fine but there is nothing but bizare babble coming out -

This is an exceedingly Cruel Story. Communication is the meeting of minds and ideas. This is definitely NOT what we have here with regard to any discussion.

Who does this system this is being fooled here? We can go to space statios, the moon, the depths of the oceans to kill everything that lives in the intersts of Capitalism. We have every typr of phone one can conceive of, BUT We HAVE VERY LITTLE TRUE communication! Why? Because COMPETITION by definition makes COOPERATION not to be desired. THIS is why this story is CRUEL! It is pure Politics and pure politics is a cruel sport of Deception! Period! Something would be getting solved were this that I assert not the complete Truth on this matter. My apologies, Mr. Deeds. Peace

Well , we had a president that mispronounced and fumbled words, and he got elected for a 2nd term.
McCain picked a Palin as his running mate who , rambled and made much ado about nothing much . The only time she made sense was when she was reading her prompter word for word. When she adlibed it was horrible to watch. And folks still love her and getting richer by the day off them.
So if Deeds can do the job , lets have at it , but I think with the GOP making fun of ones lack of communicative skills if like the pot calling the kettle black with the two perviously named popular republicans.

And that is another problem with far-right fundamentalist candidates such as McDonnell–the hypocrisy is eventually revealed. In addition to McDonnell's positions against working women, this is another sad aspect in his campaign.

VA deserves a moderate governor with Creigh Deeds.

She discriminates against someone with a speech impediment? Isn't that punishable by law?

Sheila Johnson is a powerful Democratic supporter in Virgina. The fact that she's supporting McDonnell probably means that she has personal issues with Deeds. What could those i$$ues be about, I wonder?

I meant to say NO ONE in my family. Sheila's got me stuttering!

Figures. Johnson can't find anything to attack in Deed's policies, so she goes for the ad hominum attack. Disgusting.

Totally disgusting behavior. I am appalled. And they dare to call liberals elitist.

Just because someone has a speech impediment doesn't mean they aren't smart and capable of handling the job. I have worked with some very smart capable lawyers in the past 35 years – some had speech impediments but it didn't keep them from doing a great job. How unfortunate once again GOP has to attack a person's qualities and not the issues.

To joke about one having a speech impediment is no better than joking about someone who cannot speak. Yes, Ms. Johnson is right, we do need people who can communicate in a positive manner and not in a negative manner as she chose to do so. I thought of Ms. Johnson as one to respect, not anymore and an apology is in order from her.

I will vote for Deeds

And as a personal aside: NO ONE in family watches BET, it sucks. Sheila needs to tend to her own back yard. And, yes, I'm a Black Dominican.

Was ok to make fun of McCain's inability to use a keyboard due to his war injuries.

Was ok to make fun of Bush's ineptitued in speaking.

Was ok to make fun of Obama without his teleprompter speeches in which he is just as bad as Bush.

So why should Deeds get special treatment?

republicans mock, smear, and spew hate- I'll take the stammer anyday-because the bottom line isnt "NO".

When Bush was mocked, it was due to the content of his speech, not the mannerisms. "Fool me once, shame on...shame on me. Fool me....you can't get fooled again."

Creigh Deeds speaks with a rural S.W. Virginia accent. He does not have a speech impediment. He speaks honestly and from the heart–more than I can say for that right-wing extremist he's running against.

If we are going to judge a man based on his thesis then let's have Obama's thesis released!!!

Oh that's right Obama refuse to release his grades and thesis. Hmmm.... I wonder why? More importantly the biased media ignores & doen't seem to care about what Obama wrote in his thesis.

The hypocrites are so laughable!!

I hope McDonnell continues to debate on the issues and not these desperate distraction fr the Dems and their State Sponsor Bias Media.

So its ok to joke about and discriminate against people who studder? I'd say being discriminatory against those who studder sais a lot more about Johnson and his abilities than it does about Deed.

There is BIG difference between a speech impediment (Deeds – stuttering) and articulately and precisely finishing a group of words that don't resemble an intelligent sentence (Palin). BIG difference.

The republicans couldn't get any lower than this, although they are already below a snakes belly when it comes to morals and ethical behavior. Disgusting. She sounds like she is right up there with the whole Palin entourage. Maybe she has something negative to say about the handicapped, mentally retarded, and others with physical or mental disabilities. This just shows me that the republicans will stop at absolutely nothing to get elected. They are not Americans, but terrorists within, especially the likes of this bimbo.

I don't think making fun of someone who has a speech impairment is very cool at all. I guess we'll see who the voters best 'communicate' with.

Creigh Deeds does not have a speech impediment. He does not know how to articulate his views. There is nothing wrong with getting on him for not stating his views.

There IS a difference between making fun of the way Pailin mangles the English language with her run-on sentences, and inappropriate colloquialisms and Deed's possibly mild speech impediment. Pailin should go back to school and learn to speak English, Deeds' situation may be a case of the jitters or something that he can't help. Mean-spirited and below the belt is how I would characterize Sheila's comments, in typical Rethug fashion IMHO.

Ha!!! I have a hard time listening to anything sheila johnson says. Has anyone watched BET lately??? Her endorsement is as worthless as her television show.

The comparison to Bush is weak. He was not mocked for having a speech impediment. He was mocked for not making sense.

Gee what do you expect from a republican...they don't want to debate the issues. They have no ideas that fix things...

Again all they want to do is slur and flame and lie about people...they are just showing their TRUE COLORS...HATE HATE HATE HATE....that's all they got folks.

So what is next are they going to make fun of the NY Govenor because he is blind........Republicans everyday continue to show how LOW and PETTY they are........I would rather see this man that has a speech problem and has a BRAIN than to have McDonnell that is an idiot and HATES WOMEN.........

What is not so funny is a man running for governor who wrote a thesis on denying birth control rights to not only women, but married couples. What is not funny is a man running for governor that feels he needs to tell you how to conduct your private life; a man who has introduced separate bills to that effect; a man who believes that the working woman is destroying family values (what is that anyway?) And how does that make all the single mom's feel, by the way?!.... Vote McDonnel in and no one will be laughing...

Can you tell a wise man by the way he speaks or spells?
is this more important than the stories that he tells?
-The Yardbirds

I've just dated myself. Have a nice day!

Ms. Johnsons comment was juvenile, petty, and totally what I'd expect from someone in todays republican party.

Actually pathetic sums it up best.

Government have laws in place to keep people from discrimination against people with special needs, but Sheila Johnson would not know that since she is Corp. which have no limited on discrimination. BET is a disgrace to the black race and I am black. My kids are not allow to watch BET exspecially not my daughters. BET vidoes disrepect black women too much and I think it is a disgrace to all women.

Why the need for personal attacks? Blech.

The Republican's problem isn't that they aren't communicating well, it's that alot of people don't like what they are communicating. Maybe she can give this same speech in front of people with speech problems.

Is Deeds handicapped? If not he's fair game (as Palin is deemed by those who fear her).

Just look how a smooth talker have pulled the wool over every one's eyes and is now sitting in the White House. Having a mouthful of marbles or whatever never stopped Barney Frank from being elected. If Mr. Deeds feels comfortable as I'm sure he does, with how he speaks than that should not be a barrier but to those with small minds from both political parties..

I'd sooner have an educated man stammer, than have an idiot like george bush who never said anything intelligent. Oh by the way! I predict that as time goes by and the rednecks in the Republican party get more and more backed into a corner by simple demographics and education they will scream all the louder until they, just like the Wig Party, fade from sight. I can prove this. The average age of Republicans is about fifty going on eighty. this is why they want the old USA back. (This was when black people were at the back of the bus)
If you look at who they have now then the future without the Republicans is assured. For example such people as
Glen Beck, Sarah Palin, Rush Limbah, Ann Coulter, all over the hill failed drug addicts alcoholics or just sorry self delusional excuses for human beings. Sorry boys and girls your time is almost up.

That comment was out-of-bounds.

The Washington Post, that bastion of conservatism made the same observation. Wasn't George Bush's speech the butt of many Letterman bits. What's good for the goose...

Can this lady speak without moving her hand? She almost looks like a bull rider trying to keep her balance.

You know, I think that's okay when political views, personal lifestyle, and whatever else the person has control over to be fair game. But, just because someone has a speech imped... speech imed... speech imped... a stutter is not fair game. Hey, I'm bald and I know when someone is drawing at straws the whip out the old bald joke. It's like making fun of someone because they're left handed, bald and wear glasses..... trust me, I've heard them all.

For any Democrat to complain in the least about this tactic is Bold Faced Hypocrisy considering all that was said about Bush’s speaking abilities. Your party and CNN really show your colors on this one.

I have no knowledge of Mr. Deeds. But if he has a speech problem; then this woman should be very ashamed and Mr. McDonell should apologize to him for his association with her. If he just can't speak (like that Palin woman) he is fair game and make all the fun of him that you want.

So, the logical conclusion from Ms. Johnson's comments, and Bob McDonnell's silence, is that if someone has a speech issue, do not run for public office. How about a wheel chair? One arm? While her statement was not about disabilities per se, it sent a message to everyone out there that does not fit the perfect mold. What are all of those speech therapists saying this morning to their students who stutter? Well, get an education but know that you are limited to jobs when you grow up that do not involve communicating with people....... sorry.....otherwise you will be openly mocked.

Glenn Beck is not about political parties. The Republicans and Democrats are so entrenched in their parties that they can't think out of that political box. It has always been about "We The People" and Washington DC has forgotten that. They don't like Glenn, because he is reminding them of their true duties.

honestly, that's just mean and immature. But democrats shouldn't go crazy over it. The republicans can keep talking and then they'll get voted out of office again...

he,s right the republicans need a smooth talker right now theydo not have one i,d rather have a smooth thinker like deed,s

Speech impediments are not funny; just like autism. Sheila Johnson should be ashamed of herself - I thought she had more class.

Republicans have no new ideas, so they resort to school-yard bully tactics.

..and the tightie righties were a a-dither when Duh Duh Duhbya was made fun of. NOW they think it's funny to mock someone's speech. Typical hypocrisy

Wow....Funny? It sounds like he has a speech disability, I don't think his campaign person should be making fun...that's sad.

In his column today, Paul Krugman referred to the behavior as the "politics of spite". Anything that is good for the country but is connected to the Democrats is vilified or brings out the sad lack of maturity in the people who speak for the right.

Children in Kindergarten are taught not to ridicule someone. If a high school student had imitated a classmate's stammer, it would earn time in the suspension room.

This is bullying, demeaning another person to shame them. What is wrong with this country that those who engage in this behavior are not removed from any role in the Republican party?

Whatever happened to kindness and compassion? The lady in question only shows her ignorance of common courtesy and civility–surely the candidate she touts should think twice about having her on the team–not to mention the national party!
The Democratic opponent sets the correct tone in his reply–and he is definitely owed a big apology by this terribly misguided person!

Can he do the job for Virginia? He's made it this far with his speaking ability.....life goes on.

So, the republicans' angle here is the American people need a smooth talker? Isn't that their complaint about President Obama? If they value great communication skills, why did they all support W?

Hate, fear mongering, tax cuts for the wealthy and screw everyone else. That is why we voted them out and nothing has changed with the GOP it has just gotten more viscious and fanatical.

no one cares

It is becoming universal that somebody has to attack his or her opponent so the votes tend to sway away from the foe. That is what we have frequently have been calling the " Machiavellian methods " of grabbin' and holding on to power by certain seemingly unfair means.

Some people have speech impairment. It doesn't disqualify them from serving the Public. It's what you try to say and do matters.

Ah, the GOP...the party of morals and ethics.

This story doesn't surprise me at all. Nothing the GOP does surprises me anymore.

WHAT? Has she watched BET lately? She obviously was not concerned about correct English and clarity of speech being used on her network! Mrs. Johnson, let me say as one of your own....you've got something brown there on your nose that you might want to wipe off. As far as the Republican party is concerned, you start with a "T" and rhyme with the word spoken....communicate that!

Stay Classy!

Personal attacks are the new substantive arguements. Welcome to 21st century politics. Have a nice day!

Very tacky indeed of Ms. Johnson, a usually extremely gracious woman. I hope she has called on Deeds and apologized graciously. There's no need for that kind of behavior, surely.

Let Republicans talk long enough and everyone will remember why we voted them out of office.

I am sorry, but it is funny and I am a democrat mostly. I and I dont think dems should get mad about that especially when Sarah Palin was treated so bad for how she spoke. Speaking is an essential part of beign an effective leader that's why it's so hard to listen to Barney Frank.